Villa quiet on Lerner and O'Neill

The maelstrom of publicity raging around Aston Villa appears to be at odds with events inside the walls of Villa Park with the club not expecting to confirm Martin O'Neill as their new manager today, nor anticipating host-ing representatives of billion-aire Randy Lerner.

The maelstrom of publicity raging around Aston Villa appears to be at odds with events inside the walls of Villa Park with the club not expecting to confirm Martin O'Neill as their new manager today, nor anticipating host-ing representatives of billion-aire Randy Lerner.

In fact, I understand there was no delegation from the American's consortium at the ground yesterday and one is not expected today as the takeover saga rumbles on without making the sort of strides some have claimed.

Furthermore, suggestions that the appointment of a replacement for David O'Leary is intrinsically connected with the success of one of the four bids looking to buy out Doug Ellis also seem wide of the mark as the board concentrate on making sure a new manager is in place before the Premiership season kicks off.

While O'Neill remains the only candidate in the picture, the prospect of him not being in place in time for Villa's pre-season tour to Germany and Holland is becoming increasingly likely with Roy Aitken set to lead the party out of the country tomorrow.

With their first match against Hanover the following day the Ulsterman might not have much of a role to play in the three-match programme unless something breaks over the weekend.

That will come as a massive frustration to the legions of supporters who are desperate for the former Celtic manager to lift the gloom of the O'Leary years and for Ellis to end his 24-year-reign.

The first part of the equation does at least seem imminent, if not immediately so with next Tuesday or Wednesday rumoured to be a possible coronation date, as one of Lerner's rivals for Villa, Nicholas Padfield QC, has removed his objection to working with O'Neill.

Quite the reverse is true now with Padfield's AV06 group dropping their insistence that Michael Laudrup and John Jensen are brought in and agreeing to the installation of the fans' favouite.

They have even claimed they would give him £50 million to spend on rebuilding the Villa side.

About £30 million of that would be available before the transfer window closes at the end of this month with the balance coming when in reopens in January.

That would enable Villa to make their first signing of a hugely frustrating summer and bolster a squad known to be one of the smallest in the Premiership.

While Lerner's financial strength is well-known - he is one of the richest men in America - the Padfield group also have significant wealth and are made up of domestic and international investors including one billionaire.

The Athole Still bid remains shrouded in mystery in terms of his backers but it is thought the agent of Sven-Goran Eriksson has made an informal offer to Ellis which he understood to be acceptable.

That leaves the consortium headed by Villa fan Michael Neville whose momentum appears to have slowed.

The Dorridge-based businessman was the first to go public with his latest attempt at buying the club but has not answered questions about his financial muscle.

Those queries may be dismissed if Neville and Padfield join forces as was intimated by the deputy high court judge in a radio interview last night.

Padfield said: "The latest state of play is we have been approached by representatives from other consortia who have already put their hats in the ring. One is a representative of Mr Neville.

"We are considering opening discussions with them but haven't taken a firm decision.

"Nothing is going to happen until I return (from holiday) at the end of the week.

"We haven't had serious discussions yet but an approach has been made to me and certainly I'm quite happy to arrange a meeting when I get back."

Padfield added: "One of the crucial issues is the extent to which Doug Ellis wants to retain a stake in the club or whether he is prepared to sell his entire shareholding.

"The other critical issue is what the position is as regards the team manager - has one been appointed, is one going to be appointed, the nature of his contract etc.

"This will impact on the amount of finance available to buy new players."

Padfield added: "I have had no discussions with Mr Ellis at all and all of us find it surprising that no one from the club has bothered to tell us what the position is as regards whether any formal offers have been made or indeed the position as regards appointing a manager.

"I am having meetings (with Mr Ellis) next Tuesday. They will be one of a number of meetings but I don't anticipate we will be in a great rush to make a bid simply because we don't have all the relevant information on which to base it."

Meanwhile, a former Northern Ireland team-mate of O'Neill's, Gerry Armstrong, believes the 54-year-old will be a big success should he decide to take over the job.

Now an assistant manager with the province, Armstrong claims he would love to see his old pal back doing what he does best.

"It would be great to see Martin return to management," Armstrong said. "He is one of the best around and I know he has had many offers in the last year.

"In my opinion Villa are not a top-eight club at the moment and that's where Martin would aim to take them if he becomes manager.

"He would need the resources, though, but there is no doubt he has the class and the managerial ability to be a big success."

Armstrong, who scored the winning goal for the O'Neillled team that beat Spain in the 1982 World Cup, added: "Moving to Villa would mean he would be in charge of Northern Ireland players Aaron Hughes and Steve Davis.

"I know Martin would enjoy working with them because both lads are very professional and excellent footballers. And Steve and Aaron in turn would learn much from Martin. That would benefit Villa and Northern Ireland."

The chances of Chris Sutton teaming up with his former Celtic manager are remote, however.

The striker's agent confirmed yesterday that if he were to return to the Second City it would be to rejoin Birmingham City despite the fact they are in the Championship.

The chances of that happening in the short term are not particularly high given the player is recovering from a groin injury and will not commit himself before he is 100 per cent fit.